Do Internal Walls Need to be Insulated?

When researching home remodeling projects, the question of whether to insulate interior walls often arises. If you’re interested in knowing if your interior walls are insulated and whether it’s beneficial to install insulation if they’re not, the information in this article can help you decide.

Are Interior Walls Usually Insulated?

Usually, the answer is no. Interior walls are often left uninsulated during construction because the energy efficiency benefits aren’t as great as insulating exterior walls, floors and ceilings. State and local codes don’t call for interior insulation, so it’s usually only present if the homebuyer specifically asks the builder to include it. If you weren’t involved in the building process, chances are good your home’s interior walls are not insulated.

Is it Worth Insulating Interior Walls?

You may want to insulate your interior walls for several reasons:

• Energy efficiency: Insulating interior walls helps maintain a stable temperature in all locations in your home, increasing comfort and lowering the strain on your heating and cooling system.
• Soundproofing: When you put insulation in your home’s interior walls, you drastically reduce the amount of sound going from room to room. This is very useful for creating a quiet and calm home office or nursery. It also helps stop the noise from a music room or home theater from bothering family members in other parts of the home.
• Moisture protection: Certain kinds of wall insulation can be a moisture barrier, preventing the buildup of dampness inside the walls of high-humidity spaces, such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Making sure these walls stay dry reduces the risk of mold, which can compromise indoor air quality and your home’s structural integrity.
• Fire protection: Certain kinds of insulation materials are fire-resistant, which provides an extra degree of safety. In the event of a fire, insulated interior walls slow the spread of flames, giving you and your family more time to get out of the home and potentially saving your property from extensive damage.

What Kind of Insulation Is Ideal for Interior Walls?

The proper material for your interior wall insulation project depends on your specific needs and goals. Here are a few types to consider:

• Loose-fill insulation is ideal for existing walls, as it can be blown into the interior of the walls through small openings that are very easy to patch afterward. Because this doesn’t require extensive renovation, you keep the cost and construction mess to a minimum.
• Spray foam insulation expands to fill cavities, cracks and gaps, making it perfect for uneven areas within walls or next to obstructions. It also features outstanding thermal qualities and sound dampening. Spray foam is a fabulous choice if you’re building new interior walls, though it is more expensive than some other choices.
• Fiberglass batts are a desirable, cost-efficient option that are easy to install in new construction or renovations where walls are are unfinished and still open. They offer effective thermal performance but must be installed correctly in order to avoid gaps.
• Mineral wool is denser than fiberglass, and as a result is a even better option for fire resistance and soundproofing.
• Rigid foam board offers high insulation values in thin profiles, making it useful for new construction or significant renovations that include thin interior walls. Then again, it cannot be installed if walls are already closed—they must still be open.

More Methods to Increase Home Efficiency

Even though insulating interior walls provides many benefits, it doesn’t do a lot to lower your utility bills. If efficiency is your main focus, try these improvements to get better results:

• Add attic insulation: This is the most effective location to add insulation to a home that is already built. A nice, deep layer of attic insulation prevents heat from escaping in the winter and seeping in through the ceiling in the summer.
• Stop air leaks: This requires finding and repairing leaks around doors, windows and other openings in outside walls to keep warm or cool air from escaping. Caulk, weatherstripping and expanding spray foam are the best tools for this task.
• Install double-pane windows: If your home still has old, single-pane windows, contemplate upgrading to double-pane windows for an additional layer of insulation. This purchase helps keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler and more comfortable in the summer.
• Get a smart thermostat: Thermostats with learning capabilities can adjust your home’s temperature to match your habits and preferences, optimizing energy use and lowering your utility bills.
• Replace old HVAC equipment: A new, energy-efficient furnace and air conditioner requires less energy to heat and cool your home than older less efficient equipment.

Questions about Insulation in the U.S.? Call the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help with many of your home remodeling goals. If it’s related to HVAC, plumbing or electrical, our skilled team can help! The ACE-certified technicians at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing provide fast, durable solutions with guaranteed results. If you’re not totally happy with our work, we promise to make it right. For innovative solutions and expert service personalized for your home’s needs, phone 866-397-3787 today to reach the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.